Invisible Tattoos?

[Evil_Geoff]

I like my ink, and I'm proud of it! I go sleeveless quite often just to show it off. Eventually I'll get a complimentary piece on my right upper arm/shoulder (right now the design idea is a phoenix in red, yellow, golden hues with blue/green highlights, kinda the reverse scheme of my dragon).

Inkless tattooing has draw a lot of interest from many of the PYLs and pyls here locally for several reasons.

#1 - it feels just like getting a tattoo done. They enjoy the sensation (the givers and the recievers!). For some, that by itself is reason enough.
#2 - it's bloodplay. You WILL bleed from it. For many of us, that, by itself, is reason enough.
#3 - You can induce scarring/permanent marking like this, but it is not a significant risk. You have to really work to make it scar noticibly.
#4 - They get to draw designs on their partner's body, but they don't have to be great artists. Hellooooo... drawing stick figures is fine if what you are after is #1 and #2! You might want to be a wee bit artistic if you intend to cause scarring, but hey, whatever floats your boat.

*shrugs*

While I am of the school of thought that approves of good ink, I have worked in the professional world and understand that in some venues/career fields, visible tattoos are going to cause problems. Inkless tattoos or UV tattoos are a way to enjoy the sensations, the artistry, the power exchange, without having the consequences bleeding over into your professional life.

In other words, if it works in your situation, please carry on with my blessing and approval, regardless of the nay-sayers.

 

[Otto26]

While the opinions regarding visible marking versus non-visible marking are interesting (and the links to examples of UV Ink are fascinating) I was really hoping to hear horror stories regarding inkless tattooing. Alas, as none are forthcoming, I'll refer my online friend to the dangers of standard tattooing.

On the subject of whether or not inkless tats are worth the time I'll agree with Evil Geoff and note that sex takes place in the mind. If two people find significance in the act then more power to them.

Thanks for your time and civil discourse. Not the answers I wanted, but they are appreciated nonetheless.

 

[Kierae]

I love my tats. I want them to show if I choose. I use (key word) to work in a field that I needed to be cautiious. I have a half sleeve plus kanji down the other arm and another piece on my chest. I love art and I appreciate art on skin. All of my art was put on my body with meaning. I understand why some folks would do the UV stuff and yet I can't imagine, only because I love my art and showing it off when I have the opportunity. My art displays me, my family, my sexuality and my artist - because I appreciate all of them and all are prominent in my life.

Marking is marking and I don't care if it shows forever or only UV light - it is still marking if it holds meaning to you.

 

[serijules]

While I am of the school of thought that approves of good ink, I have worked in the professional world and understand that in some venues/career fields, visible tattoos are going to cause problems. Inkless tattoos or UV tattoos are a way to enjoy the sensations, the artistry, the power exchange, without having the consequences bleeding over into your professional life.

In other words, if it works in your situation, please carry on with my blessing and approval, regardless of the nay-sayers

"inkless" tattooing and "invisible" tattoos are two entirely different concepts IMO. The OP was talking of invisible tattoos. "The goal being to mark the person without creating a visible mark." That is what I don't quite see the point of. The usual "to each their own" always applies of course.

Inkless tattooing as a form of painplay and foreplay? Hell yeah, I'm all for that.

 

[Evil_Geoff]

... I was really hoping to hear horror stories regarding inkless tattooing...

Horror stories? As in "I got an invisible tattoo and now my life is ruined..." horror story? Or "I was kidnapped and strapped to a chair and had invisible tattoos done on my face and now people point at me when I go to the supermarket..." Or "I did an inkless tattoo to someone and gave them AIDS..." or "I caught a resistant staph infection from an inkless tattoo"? type horror stories?

From the OP it sounded like you were looking for info on inkless tattooing. Which, if done with normal bloodplay precautions, should be no more dangerous or damaging than any other kind of bloodplay. Sanitize the skin you'll be working on, make sure the instrument(s) are sterile, the artist should wear fresh sterile barrier gloves on their hands. Since we aren't looking at preserving ink, a good through cleaning with alcohol or iodine afterwards (Hey, whadja expect? I'm a SADIST! *LOL*) and anti-bacterial ointment and they should be fine.

From this post though, I take it you are trying to disuade your friend from attempting to do something along those lines. Sorry... I'm a firm believer in "It might not be _my_ kink, but if it turns you and your partner on, if y'all are adults and give free, informed, consent, and no one is being deliberately harmed, it's not my concern, please carry on if it makes y'all happy." No negative thoughts from me on inkless or "invisible" tattooing.

 

[serijules]

Sorry... I'm a firm believer in "It might not be _my_ kink, but if it turns you and your partner on, if y'all are adults and give free, informed, consent, and no one is being deliberately harmed, it's not my concern, please carry on if it makes y'all happy."

Would that be called "IMNBMKBIITYAYPOIYAAAGFICANOIBDHINMCPCOIIMYH" for short?

*grins*

 

[Evil_Geoff]

Would that be called "IMNBMKBIITYAYPOIYAAAGFICANOIBDHINMCPCOIIMYH" for short?

*grins*

*LMBFHAO* If it makes you happy!

 

[Otto26]

Horror stories? As in "I got an invisible tattoo and now my life is ruined..." horror story? Or "I was kidnapped and strapped to a chair and had invisible tattoos done on my face and now people point at me when I go to the supermarket..." Or "I did an inkless tattoo to someone and gave them AIDS..." or "I caught a resistant staph infection from an inkless tattoo"? type horror stories?

From the OP it sounded like you were looking for info on inkless tattooing. Which, if done with normal bloodplay precautions, should be no more dangerous or damaging than any other kind of bloodplay. Sanitize the skin you'll be working on, make sure the instrument(s) are sterile, the artist should wear fresh sterile barrier gloves on their hands. Since we aren't looking at preserving ink, a good through cleaning with alcohol or iodine afterwards (Hey, whadja expect? I'm a SADIST! *LOL*) and anti-bacterial ointment and they should be fine.

From this post though, I take it you are trying to disuade your friend from attempting to do something along those lines. Sorry... I'm a firm believer in "It might not be _my_ kink, but if it turns you and your partner on, if y'all are adults and give free, informed, consent, and no one is being deliberately harmed, it's not my concern, please carry on if it makes y'all happy." No negative thoughts from me on inkless or "invisible" tattooing.

I don't particularly care about his kinks. I do care that he strikes me as being someone who doesn't think things through and I don't want him using one of my ideas to hurt someone (in a careless, non-deliberate fashion). I was hoping to have horror stories that would make him think. I sent him some standard 'bad tat' story links and my conscience is now clear.

And I do appreciate the UV ink links.

 

[Generic_chick]

Seems rather pointless. Might as well draw on the bottom with a Sharpie marker. It fades after awhile too and you can still say "Hey, I marked her, but you just can't see it!"

I've entertained the idea of white "blacklight" ink tattoos before...they only show up under the blacklight and very faintly otherwise. Makes a bit more sense to me.

Has anyone seen one of these tattoos a few years after the work was done? I'd be interested to hear if it lasts as long as a traditional tattoo does.

 

[notalwaysweak]

Has anyone seen one of these tattoos a few years after the work was done? I'd be interested to hear if it lasts as long as a traditional tattoo does.

Here's a pic I found of one that's three years old: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kchrist/1343900919/

 

[Etoile]

Here's a pic I found of one that's three years old: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kchrist/1343900919/

That's white ink, which is very different from UV ink. White ink is intended to show. UV ink is intended not to show unless you have a black light on it.

I am really yearning for a tattoo on my wrists or forearms, but it will have to be white or UV ink. Plus I still owe myself the 10th-anniversary tattoo on my hip, which will be normal inks, after my wife designs it!

 

[Etoile]

Has anyone seen one of these tattoos a few years after the work was done? I'd be interested to hear if it lasts as long as a traditional tattoo does.

BME has a gallery of UV/glow tattoos, currently there's about 500 pics in there, but you can only see 75 for free.
http://www.bmeink.com/uv001.html

Here's a 1-year-old UV tattoo: normal and black light
Another one: fresh, healed (doesn't say how long), black light

 

[twysted73]

I want one.

Damn.

I want one. Several infact.

 

[xPinkxStarsx]

After lurking on this thread and keeping up with what everyone has said and shown in pics, I definately am thinking about getting one of the UV black light tattoos now! Thanks everyone for all the pics!

 

[Generic_chick]

BME has a gallery of UV/glow tattoos, currently there's about 500 pics in there, but you can only see 75 for free.
http://www.bmeink.com/uv001.html

Here's a 1-year-old UV tattoo: normal and black light
Another one: fresh, healed (doesn't say how long), black light

Thank you. I appreciate the hunting and the typing.

 

[Generic_chick]

Here's a pic I found of one that's three years old: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kchrist/1343900919/

The white is lovely too.

 

[notalwaysweak]

That's white ink, which is very different from UV ink. White ink is intended to show. UV ink is intended not to show unless you have a black light on it.

I am really yearning for a tattoo on my wrists or forearms, but it will have to be white or UV ink. Plus I still owe myself the 10th-anniversary tattoo on my hip, which will be normal inks, after my wife designs it!

Oopsie. *smacks self upside head* Oh well, at least you posted a link to the correct photos for me to admire.

 

[xPinkxStarsx]

I talked to my tattoo guy the other day and he said that the uv ink only lasts a couple of months and its made from plastic which doesnt seem like a good thing to be putting into your body.....*sigh* its such a cool idea....

 

[SweetErika]

I talked to my tattoo guy the other day and he said that the uv ink only lasts a couple of months and its made from plastic which doesnt seem like a good thing to be putting into your body.....*sigh* its such a cool idea....

According to what I've read, it's been around for more than a decade, and people still have their tattoos years after getting them. At least that's the case with THIS ink. Maybe he's thinking of a different kind of ink. If you're interested and your questions aren't answered on that site, you could contact them to verify the info.

 

[xPinkxStarsx]

According to what I've read, it's been around for more than a decade, and people still have their tattoos years after getting them. At least that's the case with THIS ink. Maybe he's thinking of a different kind of ink. If you're interested and your questions aren't answered on that site, you could contact them to verify the info.

Thanks Erika. Yeah he said it had only been around for like 10 years or so and that it hasnt been long enough to find out long term effects from it being in your skin and what it can cause (because it is supposedly made out of plastic). I'll check out the site now.

 

[cherokee_dove]

The guy who does my ink work said that UV tattooing has been around (in the big cities at least) for about 15 years. He first seen it done at a convention in Chicago back then.

He is one that always keeps up on the medical safety side of all types of ink used in tattooing. He said that the UV ink does have a tiny bit (like 2%) amount of a (and i am not sure if i am saying this next word right or not) plasticisine liquidation factor in it, and can; on a very small percent of people, cause an allergic reaction.

He then explained that what it meant, was with the right body chemistry; the liquidation factor could become a health risk due to a very thin layer of plastic-like material forming within the tattoo.

He goes to the Tattoo Artwork conventions each year, and said that he had only seen 3 people that HAD to have the UV tattoos removed thru laser removal; due to allergic reactions.

Hope this helps.

 

[serijules]

I would assume that yes, there is something unusual in the ink to make it glow. That isn't a natural thing, lol. I've heard of many UV inks not lasting or causing reactions, which is why the FDA only approves one brand. That brand is also used to mark fish to track them for scientific data, I believe.

A lot of people are allergic to tattoo ink in general, specifically the colour red and red based tones (purple, etc). Again, is why tattoo artists often advise new inkers to get test "dots" first to test allergic reaction. They almost always use red ink to do this as it is the most common colour that is reacted to.

I've known people with UV ink tats that have had them for 8-9 years. So they definitely don't fade in a few months/years. However, all of them have Chameleon brand UV ink as well (the FDA approved brand)

 

[SweetErika]

The guy who does my ink work said that UV tattooing has been around (in the big cities at least) for about 15 years. He first seen it done at a convention in Chicago back then.

He is one that always keeps up on the medical safety side of all types of ink used in tattooing. He said that the UV ink does have a tiny bit (like 2%) amount of a (and i am not sure if i am saying this next word right or not) plasticisine liquidation factor in it, and can; on a very small percent of people, cause an allergic reaction.

He then explained that what it meant, was with the right body chemistry; the liquidation factor could become a health risk due to a very thin layer of plastic-like material forming within the tattoo.

He goes to the Tattoo Artwork conventions each year, and said that he had only seen 3 people that HAD to have the UV tattoos removed thru laser removal; due to allergic reactions.

Hope this helps.

Here's how the site that sells the ink describes it and says about its safety (emphasis mine):

We were contacted by NEWWEST Technologies, It was exciting news: they had developed a Blacklight Reactive Ink - and it was Tested and has been is safe. Well, as anyone would do, we set out to do our research on this new ink. Using first the information we received from NEWWEST Technologies, we researched scientific articles on bone repair, plastic surgery, orthodontics , body modification, and other medical uses of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The PMMA is what makes this ink absolutely safe, and gives this ink its FDA Approval.

What makes this ink different from standard tattoo inks, not to mention safer, is a polymer microsphere delivery vehicle. These are microscopic beads that encases the dye molecules. The technical name of this synthetic polymer is Polymethylmethacrylate, or PMMA for short. PMMA was developed for use as a shatterproof replacement for glass. For over 30 years polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been used in orthopedic surgery to fix prosthetic components. PMMA has been used since the early 1930's in familiar procedures such as dental prostheses, bone repair, eye lenses, orthopedics and in pacemakers, and since 1947, when the first hip prosthesis was introduced. More recently, PMMA has been used in treatment for erasing facial wrinkles and intraocular lens implants, used to replace natural or cataract lenses of the eye. Many scientific articles on bone repair have mention the chemical inertness and biocompatibility of PMMA. Those in the tattooing and piercing industry would recognize this material as the same one that goes under brand names of Lucite and others, which is often used in plugs and other body jewelry, which is well known for its biocompatibility.

These microspheres are 4-5 times the size of a red blood cell and are well tolerated by human tissue (no rejection). In simple terms, what makes this particular tattoo ink safer than others is how the ink is manufactured. The dye color is never in contact with the person. Think of the PMMA as a safe, permanent shell surrounding the colors. These ink-filled shells actually sit in between the skin cells, with complete biocompatibility. The PMMA shell holds the color inside, and can only be broken down if frozen solid (which would mean that the person had been frozen too).

The PMMA is completely hypoallergenic, unlike some of today's tattoo inks - even the ones created with all natural organic components.

We have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on this site, and one is shipped with every order of ink. You are more than welcome to review it. After speaking in length with NEWWEST Technologies, reviewing the MSDS sheets, FDA letters, and looking up the facts on the ingredients in this product (Polymethylmethacrylate 97.5% and microspheres of fluorescent dye 2.5% suspended in UV sterilized, distilled water with no preservatives or other additives), we were very satisfied that this new ink was as safe, if not safer, than the tattoo inks we use every day. We were so impressed with this remarkable (no tattoo pun intended) product, that after researching it, testing it, and using it on ourselves, we became the worlds largest disruptor of Safe Blacklight Tattoo Inks!​

So, it doesn't appear to contain any liquid plastic at all. The plastic component is the lucite microspheres that encapsulate the flourescent dye, and the liquid that suspends the microspheres is simply sterilized, distilled water.

 

[xPinkxStarsx]

Hmmm I wonder what he was talking about then. He also said that with the laser remover it just makes it black and doesnt get rid of it....I dunno but thanks for the info! I think I am definately going to look into it more and find someone that will do it (since my shop doesnt which sucks)

 

[cherokee_dove]

SweetErika,

As i am not a doctor; i was just relaying the info my tattooist gave me concerning questions i asked him about the UV tattoos.

And since he said that on a rare percentage of people who's body chemistry is a slight bit more sensitive; that they could have a reaction.

And as to whether or not it is liquidation or not, he just said a possible liquidation factor. That (to me anyhow) is like a breast implant that COULD leak, not does leak. And that has been known to happen.